Strawberry plant named &#39;Tamir&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘TAMIR’. This new strawberry plant named ‘TAMIR’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the growing conditions of the Sharon coastal plain, at 32° latitude, located in Israel, and is primarily characterized by low amounts of runners (stolons) production in the propagating nursery; no chilling requirement for flower induction; very early fruit production from the first week of November in Israel; moderate plant size with open, flattened habit; fruiting trusses position level with foliage; large fruit size, orange-red in color; high fruit firmness even in high temperatures; juicy fruit texture with strong flavor; very nice appearance with yellowish achenes over bright red fruit skin; and high field tolerance to powdery mildew.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Fragaria ananassa

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘TAMIR’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘TAMIR’. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa Duch.

The new strawberry ‘TAMIR’ is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventors, Nir DAI, Zecharia TANAMI and Sara SLOTZKY in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a new infra short-day strawberry variety having premium fruit quality (appearance, firmness and flavor), which produces high marketable yields from the beginning of November.

This new strawberry ‘TAMIR’ is a result of a controlled cross made by the inventors in 2000, in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The female or seed parent is strawberry variety designated ‘HADAS’, registered for PBR in Israel (No. 1860, Date: Jan. 20, 1999) and in Europe (No. EU 6445, Date: Jul. 3, 2000). The male or pollen parent is strawberry variety designated ‘HERUT’, registered for PBR in Israel (No. 2243, Date: May 2, 2002) and in Europe (No. EU 21583, Date: Dec. 17, 2007). The new strawberry ‘TAMIR’ was discovered and selected by the inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in March of 2001, in controlled environment of an experimental greenhouse in Bet-Dagan, Israel. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery located in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The new variety was extensively tested over the following years in few small commercial fields in Moshav Tsofit, Kadima and Qalansawa, Israel. This propagation has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘TAMIR’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the Sharon coastal plain, at 32° latitude, located in Israel and to similar climatic regions. This region provides the needed growing conditions of autumn with high temperatures that promote primary plant growth and earliness of fruit production; and mild winter with moderate temperatures and many sunny days with low humidity, maintaining plant vigorous and fruit quality during the production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘TAMIR’, which in combination distinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

1. Low amounts of runners (stolons) production in the propagating nursery;

2. No chilling requirement for flower induction;

3. Very early fruit production from the first week of November in Israel;

4. Moderate plant size with open, flattened habit;

5. Fruiting trusses position level with foliage;

6. Large fruit size, orange-red in color;

7. High fruit firmness even in high temperatures;

8. Juicy fruit texture with strong flavor;

9. Very nice appearance with yellowish achenes over bright red fruit skin; and

10. High field tolerance to powdery mildew.

Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘TAMIR’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘HADAS’, registered for PBR in Israel (No. 1860, Date: Jan. 20, 1999) and in Europe (No. EU 6445, Date: Jul. 3, 2000), and ‘HERUT’, registered for PBR in Israel (No. 2243, Date: May 2, 2002) and in Europe (No. EU 21583, Date: Dec. 17, 2007) in the characteristics described in Table 1. TABLE 1 ‘HADAS’ ‘HERUT’ Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Registered Registered Average fruit weight (gm) 22 gram 25 gram 20 gram Unevenness of fruit surface Absent or very weak Weak Weak Insertion of achenes Level with surface Level with surface Slightly below surface Attitude of calyx Clasping or detached Clasping or detached Clasping or detached Firmness of the fruit Firm Medium Medium Plant size Medium Medium Large Average number of stolons Few Many Very many Foliage color (upper surface) Medium to dark Dark Medium to dark Interveinal leaf blistering Weak Weak Weak Vigor Medium Medium Strong Position relative to foliage Level with Above Beneath

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new strawberry variety ‘TAMIR’ is the male or pollen parental cultivar, strawberry variety ‘HERUT’ (registered for PBR in Israel and Europe). Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘TAMIR’ differ from plants of strawberry variety ‘HERUT’ in the characteristics described in Table 2. TABLE 2 ‘HERUT’ Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Registered Average fruit 22 gram 20 gram weight (gm) Insertion of achenes Level with surface Slightly below surface Attitude of calyx Clasping or detached Clasping or detached Firmness of the fruit Firm Medium Plant size Medium Large Average number Few Very many of stolons Fruit color Orange-red Red to dark red Fruit tip color Without green tip Dominant green tip Foliage size Medium Large Inflorescence position Level with Beneath relative to foliage

For its identification, a series of molecular markers have been developed for this new variety. The genetic polymorphic pattern of two Cleavage Amplified Polymorphic Sequence (CAPS) markers (A. APX-MluI and B. CTI-Hinfl (Kunihisa et al., 2003)) that differ between the new strawberry cultivar ‘TAMIR’ and the main commercial Israeli strawberry cultivars, as well as, other widely known strawberry cultivars is shown in FIG. 7.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of typical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘TAMIR’, at various stages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with color reproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in the botanical description which accurately describes the color of ‘TAMIR’. The depicted plant and plant parts of the new strawberry variety ‘TAMIR’ were taken in Moshav Tsofit, Israel, and are approximately 5 month old.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘TAMIR’ taken in February of 2007.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical leaf structure of ‘TAMIR’ taken in February of 2008.

FIG. 3A shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘TAMIR’ taken in February of 2007 and FIG. 3B shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘TAMIR’ taken in February of 2008.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up external view of mature fruit of ‘TAMIR’ taken in February of 2007.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up internal view of mature fruit characteristics of ‘TAMIR’ taken in February of 2008.

FIG. 6. Average August to March maximum and minimum temperatures, during the main strawberry growing season at the fruit production field.

FIG. 7. The genetic polymorphic pattern of 12 strawberry accessions at two CAPS markers: A. APX-MluI and B. CTI-Hinfl (following Kunisha, et al. (2003)).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘TAMIR’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail, depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather (temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type and location.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe the new strawberry variety ‘TAMIR’, unless otherwise noted, taken during the winter of the growing season 2007-2008 in Moshav Geolim and Bet-Dagan, Israel. The observations, measurements and values were taken from plants of ‘TAMIR’ dug from a low-elevation nursery located in Moshav Geolim and Bet-Dagan, Israel, during September, 2007 and planted directly, without any chilling, in the same day in the commercial field in Moshav Geolim and experimental greenhouse Bet-Dagan, Israel. Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘TAMIR’ were grown under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Growing conditions at the nursery:

Mother plants provided from an authorized nursery are planted in the beginning of May, in the field nursery at 2.5 m×2.5 m distance. Combination of overhead and drip irrigation with addition of fertilizers is used. The average day/night temperatures during the establishment of the daughter plants, between June to August, are 32° C./18° C. respectively. Runners appear from June, which produce young daughter plants up till mid September, these are then collected and planted directly in the commercial fields. Growing conditions at the fruit production field:

The bare rooted plants are washed from soil and dipped in Octav (Prochloraz manganese) 2 g/Liter solution to avoid anthracnose. These bare rooted plants are then planted in raised beds with overhead irrigation in 4 rows at 30 cm apart. Distance between plants within rows is 32 cm. During the first month, no fertilizers are added, due to the addition of 60-100 m³/hectar compost during field preparation. About 4 weeks after planting the beds are covered with silvery-black, 30 micron polyethylene. The young plants are pulled out through the pre-prepared holes. From this point on, the plants are irrigated with a drip system with a supply of additional fertilizers, as is typically used in agricultural practice. By the end of October the beds are covered with transparent, 80 micron thick polyethylene tunnels. The average day (max) and night (minimum) temperatures during the cultivation season are shown in FIG. 6.

During winter in Israel, most days have full sunlight and only average of 82 rainy days from August to June, producing about 620 mm precipitation. The commercial fields are not treated with growth regulators and regularly are irrigated and fertilized according to need during fruit production.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 2 years of data collected from the 2006 to 2007 and 2007 to 20088 growing seasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart (RHS), except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions between 10:00 a.m. to noon in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The approximate age of the observed plants is 4 to 6 months.

The following Tables 3 to 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the new strawberry ‘TAMIR’. TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Color of mature fruit Orange-red, RHS 34A Color of internal flesh Orange-red, RHS 33B Length (cm) 5 cm to 7 cm Width (cm) 3.2 cm to 4 cm Ratio length/width Longer than broad Calyx diameter (cm) 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm Average weight (gm) About 22 gram Achene color Yellow-green, RHS 154B Number of achenes About 200 per berry Achene weight (mg) Not relevant Marketable yield (gm/plt) Monthly yield November  53 gram/plant December 143 gram/plant January 155 gram/plant February 184 gram/plant March 232 gram/plant April 165 gram/plant May 119 gram/plant Total: 1051 gram/plant  Size Large Predominant shape Conical Difference in shapes Slight between primary and secondary fruit Band without achenes Narrow Unevenness of surface Weak Evenness of color Slightly uneven Glossiness Medium to strong Insertion of achenes Level with Insertion of calyx Level Attitude of the calyx Clasping or detached Size of calyx in relation to Same size fruit diameter Adherence of calyx Strong Firmness of skin Not relevant Firmness of flesh Firm Distribution of red color Marginal of the flesh Hollow center expression Weak Flavor Strong Soluble solids (% brix) 8.5-10% Time of first flowering Very early, from the beginning of October Time of first harvesting Very early, from the beginning of November Harvest period November to June Type of bearing Partially remontant

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Height (cm)  8 cm to 13 cm Spread (cm) 28 cm to 33 cm Size Medium Habit Flattened-globular Density Lex Vigor Moderate

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Average number per plant Few Fruiting field Few, until the first harvest Anthocyanin coloration Greyed-red RHS 181C Anthocyanin intensity Very weak to weak Diameter at bract (mm) 3 mm to 4 mm Pubescence Strong

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Foliage: Color of upper surface Medium to dark green, RHS 137A Color of under side Light green, RHS 138B Shape in cross section Slightly concave Interveinal blistering Weak Glossiness Weak to medium Number of leaflets Only three Terminal Leaflet: Length (cm) 6 cm to 8 cm Width (cm) About 6 cm Length/width ratio Slightly longer than broad Incision of margin Crenate Shape of base Rounded Shape of teeth Rounded Petiole: Length (cm) 8 cm to 9 cm Diameter (mm) About 3 mm Petiolule length (mm) 4 mm to 7 mm Pubescence Dense Attitude of hairs Outwards Stipule: Length (mm) About 30 mm Width (mm) About 10 mm Anthocyanin coloration None Color Yellow-green, RHS 145B

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Length (cm) About 6 cm Position relative to foliage Level with Pubescence Strong Anthocyanin intensity None Attitude at first pick Prostrate Difference between primary Very slight and secondary flower

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Petal color Mature (upper) White, RHS 155B Mature (lower) White, RHS 155B Immature (upper) Not relevant Immature (lower) Not relevant Petal shape Overall Rounded Apex Rounded Base Rounded Petal length (mm) 10 mm to 12 mm Petal width (mm) 11 mm to 13 mm Petal length/width ratio Slightly broader than long Number of petals/flower Typically 5, sometimes 6 Sepals color Mature (upper) Medium green, RHS 137C Mature (lower) Light green, RHS 138B Immature (upper) Not relevant Immature (lower) Not relevant Sepal shape Overall Elliptic Apex Typically acute Base Truncate Sepal length (mm) 10 mm to 12 mm Sepal width (mm) 4 mm to 6 mm Sepal length/width ratio Longer than broad Number of sepals/flower Typically 10, sometimes 20 Corolla diameter (mm) 30 mm to 34 mm Calyx diameter (mm) 35 mm to 40 mm Size of calyx relative to Slightly longer corolla Size of inner calyx Slightly smaller relative to outer calyx Relative position of petals Overlapping

TABLE 9 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS Characteristic ‘TAMIR’ Two spotted spider mite No testing/observations Lygus bug No testing/observations Flower thrips No testing/observations Powdery mildew Tolerant Botrytis fruit rot Moderately tolerant Angular leaf spot No testing/observations 

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘TAMIR’, as herein described and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above, having a low number of daughter plants in the propagation nursery, not requiring chilling for flower induction, and having very early fruit production from the first week of November. 